Psychiatric nursing... do you really lose all your nursing skills?

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Hello!

I'm a new grad and I have accepted a position on the inpatient unit in mental health. I'm excited to start my career in this field, but I have a question for those who have or already work there. I keep hearing rumours that nurses in mental health lose their nursing skills and thus the chances of receiving a job in acute care are limited. My long-term goal is to become an ER nurse, so I'm wondering if there's anything I should do to ensure that I can do to achieve this goal in the future?

Bear in mind that a certain percentage of ER admissions are Psych admissions, and the experience you get in an acute Psych unit is invaluable in those situations. If you're concerned about losing those other nursing skills you can always take a PRN position in a Med-Surg unit and keep your beside skills up. Even one day a month would be helpful.

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Specializes in Acute Rehab, IMCU, ED, med-surg.

I'm still pretty new, but here's my thoughts on this topic.

As a CNA, I worked with several gifted ICU RN's who did charge, precepted, etc, who worked in Psych. Didn't seem to hurt their careers a but.

Putting in a Foley can be learned from YouTube. Putting a Foley in a scared person with Schizophrenia, keeping them calm and performing teaching? That's "real" nursing skill, and working in Psych to lose the "fear" of people with psych conditions is valuable experience and a gift.

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Psych nurse for many years. prior to this I did med surg,telemetry,transplant and several other things. As a psych nurse I still do occasional post op care,wound dressings,foot care etc. I don't assume chest pain is all in the head. Those skills are still current for me. As others have said the assessment skills never go away, they do have a different focus at times.

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

This reminds me of something, kinda related....

I worked on a psych unit that was closed. I got a job in med/surg. Psych nursing is my love.

My question is....if you work med/surg, will you lose your psych skills? :D

I think if you have skills, they are there waiting to be reactivated as needed. It worked for me, anyway.

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I started working per diem at the behavioral health unit and I absolutely love it! I've always had a thing for psych even when I was in school so I'm really pumped I got it. As for the skills.. I was just thinking about that last night on the evening shift but then I was like, yup, my skills can "get lost" lol! It will come back quicker than you think! You'll never forget to *insert clinical skill here*. If you do, there are instructions on the packaging. If there are no instructions on the packaging, ask someone for help :) most of the nurses will help you no questions asked because that's our jam!

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I was a new Grad 2 years ago, I was hired on at an LTC. I just got hired on at a mental hospital and although it has only been 2 years since graduation I don't feel comfortable in an acute hospital setting. I feel you lose anything you do not use and my 2 years at an LTC I feel I have lost alot of my quick critical thinking skills I felt I was strong at. Who knows how I would react in the actual situations but I feel like I have lost it... My advice is work in Acute care of your set on working in the ER, you never know though you may go to the hospital and decide you love psych! Good luck. :yes:

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As a new grad who has just started working as a psych nurse there have been opportunities to do blood draws, TB tests, IMs, SQs, wound care, neuro checks, change colostomy bags, interpret labs, consult w/ med clinic, dentist...we've had a heart attacks, fainting, HTN crisis, seizures, fake seizures, a woman 38 weeks pregnant and acutely psychotic....and of course this is in addition to the primary thought, mood, and emotional disturbances/illnesses. Sure I guess you could lose all your medical skills if you want to be a psych nurse that disregards the physical body that your patient is living in (and hopefully still connected to), but that seems a little silly. :)

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I am a 40 year old new graduate RN with an ADN and now BSN. I was just offered a mental health position within a hospital that provides inpatient and outpatient services. I would start in outpatient first. The position allows for a lot of classroom teaching, leading groups on nutrition, medications, coping skills and overall wellness, all of which sounds amazing to me! It would be my first nursing job and as much as my heart is in it and excited about it, I still have all of these fears of being limited if I end up wanting a change later. I have read all of your posts but still feel so unsure about what to do! I absolutely loved psych in school and thought at the time it was definitely for me. When I think about the possibilities of this mental health job, I feel exhilarated! In these moments, I think, " I should go for it!" Then that little voice of doubt and fear leaks in and I find myself thinking I better reserve myself for a new grad residency instead. What do you guys think? I was offered the job on Thursday and told her I needed to think about it and call my recruiter first. My recruiter hasn't called back yet but has referred my resume to the hiring manager on a med-surg unit for a new grad program position. I have a feeling I might get an interview. I want it all! I want to be happy while helping patients, first and foremost! UGH!

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

The way I think of it is... Your non-psych skills don't go away. They are just dormant and there to be rejuvenated when you need them. Besides, a psych patient is a holistic being and you'll use lots skills when caring for them.

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Psych is a great field, but not for everyone. You have to be crazy and have a very dark sense of humor. Lol.

You do lose a lot of hands on skills when you work psych so if er is your ultimate goal than just do 6 months for the experience and the paycheck and keep looking for a job in the field you want.

Good luck

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psych nurses are the most badass nurses there are, I don't think anything scares them. When I was working on peds one time the RNs were nervous pushing benadryl on a very agitated child. If the **** hits the fan I want a psych nurse behind me

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You loose a lot of them. Our unit doesn't accept anyone with IV's or even foley catheters. It's a trade off, you don't have all the medical issues but then you have agitated pt's at times to deal with. I personally prefer handling an emotional crises rather than a medical one.

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